Colorado’s Rescue

A spectacular ending

March 16, 2010, 8:34 AM

On Friday March 12 three riders and their horses were attempting to cross the Gila River which is usually pretty tame. But due to recent rains the river has accrued treacherous undercurrents. The three riders were caught up and swept away by the rivers deceptiveness.

The three riders were soon rescued. One of the horses was rescued in good shape. Oine of the horses had a Brocken leg and had to be put to sleep. The third horse named Colorado ended up stranded on a sandbar out in river. All attempts to rescue Colorado on that day failed. The rapids were too strong to get a boat out to him. Too strong for swimmers to reach him.

Colorado was stranded out on that sand bar for four days. He was seen nibbling on the course and scarce vegetation growing along the bar and walking around seeming to take his situation in stride.

This morning Arizona watched as the Central Arizona Mountain rescue and members of the sheriffs department executed Colorado’s rescue. Several members were dropped on to the sand bar where they mildly sedated Colorado; put a hood over his eyes applied a harness to him and attached the harness to a long line that was lowered from a hovering helicopter. Then we all watched in awe as the helicopter gently lifted Colorado up in the air and transported him to a safe landing about half a mile away. When Colorado landed soundly on his own legs you could here the applause and cheers in the background evidentially there was a crowd there to witness the event. We are all very happy to see Colorado’s four day sojourn come to a marvelous and spectacular ending. The photo journalism during this epic was superior.

Colorado’s heartwarming drama gave us a break from watching dastardly news like; border murders, financial battles and cuts, worldwide disasters and on and on.

Good luck and long life Colorado. Keep in touch

. It is a clear and beautiful Tuesday morning here in Arizona and I dare to say that most of the state is at their TV sets watching the drama of Colorado come to and end.